Investigators met Flanagan at Sharks Park at a meeting that was expected to last two hours.

The development occurred as the NRL players association finally went public to support the game’s stars.

The Chief Executive of the Rugby League Players Association David Garnsey said that anti-doping authorities must take into account the reality of the status of footballers as employees when determining culpability for doping offences.

“Rugby league players ultimately place their trust in those who are in positions of knowledge and authority at their Clubs and, as employees, follow the directions of their employers,” he said.

“There was a recognition in the Australian Crime Commission’s report that illegal substances had been administered to players by staff at clubs without those players understanding the nature of the substances.

“Where that has occurred, it is clear that those athletes have been exploited and are not drug-cheats, yet they are subject to the same sanctions as those who deliberately set out to take prohibited substances to enhance their performance. In short, for reasonably obeying their employers, athletes’ careers can be destroyed and reputations irreparably damaged. This cannot have been the object of the WADA Code.

“The RLPA believes absolutely that the integrity of rugby league must never be compromised. However, to ensure that honest athletes are not unfairly punished and that public confidence in the game is not eroded, the RLPA calls on ASADA and the NRL to apportion the blame for any doping offences which may be found to have taken place where it should properly lie.”

The RLPA also informed the players today that it had retained Mr. Andrew Coleman SC to provide independent legal advice to Players in respect of the ASADA Investigation.